House debates Questions without Notice
Free Trade Agreements
Andrew Robb Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment
3:03 pm
We are seeing evidence of this from Reid Fruits. They are one of the biggest cherry-exporting companies in Australia. They are in Tasmania. They have already signed contracts and shipped 183 tonnes of cherries to Korea. Last year they shipped five tonnes. Because of the tariff reduction, they are now shipping 183 tonnes, worth nearly $3 million. That is 600 people, 600 jobs, at the peak of the season. With a 24 per cent tariff reduction, they are now making millions of dollars.
From day one, we have been on about growth and jobs. In this regard, the free trade agreements are having an immediate impact in Tasmania and the rest of the country.
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